The Sunday Mail
EMPTY containers of highly potent illicit brews made up the bulk of litter that was swept by the country’s environment patron, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, and residents of Maramba-Pfungwe at Chitsungo Shopping Centre, Mashonaland East province, showing how prevalent drug abuse has become countrywide.
Dr Mnangagwa and the residents were cleaning up the shopping centre in observance of the national clean-up day, which is observed on the first Friday of every month.
In an unprecedented development, the First Lady participated in a clean-up programme held in a remote area after enduring a 70-kilometre drive on a dusty road, reinforcing her mission of leaving no place and no one behind.
Drug abuse can lead to death and a host of challenges such as paranoia, aggressiveness, hallucinations, ill-health, addiction, impaired jdgement and loss of self-control.
Consequently, the First Lady took time during the clean-up to raise awareness about the negative effects of drug and substance abuse.
Health and Childcare Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa counsels people on the effects of cane spirits such as Ranger (commonly known as tumbwa) whose empty bottle she picked up during a national clean up campaign at Chitsungo shopping centre in Maramba Pfungwe on Friday.
Addressing the gathering after the programme, which left the Chitsungo Shopping Centre spotlessly clean, Dr Mnangagwa said communities have a duty to exercise cleanliness and not wait to clean up their environment on the designated day.
The collective effort witnessed men, women and youths cleaning the local environment, giving it a smart outlook, a development that is expected to help curb the spread of diseases.
“We must always ensure we clean the environment at all times so that we breathe clean fresh air and keep diseases at bay. Your home, your body and business centres should always be clean. We need to guard against throwing litter wantonly. We are in the rainy season and if we do not clean our environment, there will be blockages, which cause diseases. Therefore, we must always practise good hygiene,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa called on the nation to embrace the notion that a clean environment is everyone’s right, and it calls for everyone to play an active role to achieve it.
“Let us all, therefore, remain focused on achieving a clean, safe and healthy environment that we all want. Let us all play our part,” she added.
As the environment patron, Dr Mnangagwa urged residents to curb indiscriminate tree cutting, which leads to erosion and deforestation.
Wanton tree cutting and failure to replant, she added, expose the country to the effects of climate change.
Amai Mnangagwa gave away fruit trees to communities to plant at their homesteads.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) director Mr Steady Kangata praised the First Lady’s leading role in environmental conservation and protection.
Health and Childcare Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa counsels people on the effects of cane spirits such as Ranger (commonly known as tumbwa) whose empty bottle she picked up during a national clean up campaign at Chitsungo shopping centre in Maramba Pfungwe on Friday.
“As EMA, we are grateful because of the good work that the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, is spearheading in terms of environmental protection, as well as environmental management. The projects that Amai is leading are quite integrated and holistic, where she brings together the rural, as well as the urban,” he said.
“Today, we are deep in Maramba-Pfungwe solely for the cleaning up of the environment because it’s clean-up day. But you would find out that there are other programmes where she is leading in terms of enhancing people’s livelihood options. As environmentalists, we are also happy because if livelihoods of rural communities are enhanced, dependence on natural resources and the environment is also limited. People will not over exploit our natural resources, hence there will be sustainable utilisation of the resources that are available. So, as EMA, we are grateful because of the guidance that we get from the patron of the environment, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, and also her empowerment projects.”
Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Aplonia Munzverengwi described the First Lady’s visit to the area as a show of love and care for the people.
“Today, we are here in Maramba-Pfungwe, where the First Lady led the community in cleaning our environment. Each first Friday of the month is national clean-up day, so we were here for people to see that Amai cleans everywhere, including in rural areas. This is meant to teach families that wherever you are should be clean, be it at home or at the shops where you buy your food,” she said.
“Amai is saying a clean house is hygienic, while a dirty home is susceptible to diseases. The issue of cleaning up is important to us as a nation because, if we leave in a clean environment, we lead healthy lives. This constituency of Maramba-Pfungwe is on the border with Mashonaland Central province. We never thought she would come on this dusty road, which is over 70km long. We were blessed as a nation to have a mother who loves everyone, everywhere.”
Equally happy were residents of Maramba-Pfungwe, who got an opportunity to talk, share jokes and laugh with the First Lady.
